American Idol Producers Deny Trying to Push Out Fantasia Barrino  7/31/06

American Idol producers have dismissed suggestions they put pressure on contestant Fantasia Barrino to quit the TV show because she was an unmarried mother.

Upcoming US TV movie Fantasia: Life is Not a Fairy Tale, which is set to air on cable network Lifetime next month (AUG06), suggests bosses on the 2004 talent contest program encouraged her to leave the show.

In the film's opening scene, Barrino - who plays herself - is called to see a producer who informs her of internet gossip which describes her as a poor role model for children because she dropped out of school and is a single mother.

The TV executive then tells Barrino, then 19, that nobody would blame her if she quit.

But Idol executive producer Ken Warwick tells the New York Post, "Certainly, under no circumstances was she ever approached to be talked out of taking part in the show.

"We knew she had a baby right from Day One, and she was always strongly tipped to win the competition because she was so good.

"I can absolutely refute that nothing was done, or even remotely suggested to her that she shouldn't take part in the competition. It's a complete fabrication."

Representatives for Barrino, now 22, refuse comment.